Typewriting machine



; 10, 1935. H. 1.. PITMAN TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Sept. 21, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 10, 1935.

H. L. PlTMAN TYPEWRITING MACHINE 'Filed Sept. 21, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQR Dec. 10,:1935. H. 1.. PITMAN TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Sept. '21, 1953 s Sheets- Sheet :5

INVENTOR:

Patented Dec. 10, 1935 PATENT OFFICE Henry L. Pitman, Westfield, N. J., assignor to Underwood Elliott Fisher Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application September 21, 1933, Serial No. 690,301

21 Claims (01. 197-82) This invention relates to universal-bar mechanism for the ribbon-vibrator and escapement of typewriting machines, and one of its aims is to eliminate the .liability of overthrowing or crumpling the vibrating ribbon.

It is usual for a common-universal-bar stroke to effect simultaneously the escapement-operation and full amplitude of"ribbon-vibration, the stroke having the high speed or staccato characteristic due the desirability of working the escapement quickly.

Because the ribbon is vibrated very fast, it is liable to overthrow, which causes bleeding in a two-color ribbon. It is further liable to crumpling, which, at high speed, is due to inertia of the ribbon relatively to the rapidly starting ribhon-vibrator- It remains desirable to localize the universalbar mechanism at the region of the machine where it can be operated by a type-carrier which, swinging in the usual wide arc, is the member best capable, by reason of its momentum at the end-portion of its swing followed by immediate recoil, of imparting the desired staccato impulse to the universal bar.

In the standard Underwood typing machine, for example, each of the arcuately-arrayed swinging type-bars has near its fulcrum a heel to actuate'a single curved universal bar common to the escapement and ribbon-vibrating devices, and which universal bar, in order to secure'its staccato actuation, is only engagedby said heel at the final portion of the printing stroke. It

will be evident that when such common universal bar and cooperating heel-are used, the limit to movement to the printing point does not wait for the carriage-escapement operation, but, starts substantially as soon as the type-bar leaves its normal position, and may'continue substantially throughout the printing stroke. The movement of the ribbon to the printing point is thus pro tracte'd, and it may be effected with smooth acceleration. Thus there is eliminated the liability of either overthrowing or crumpling the'ribbon.

Said universal-bar actuating portion of the typeaction member is further arranged relatively to the novel localized universal-bar mechanism, so

that the escapement-actuating phase in the operation of said mechanism has the desired staccato characteristic, whereby the escapement is actuated in immediate correlation to, that is,

very close to, the instant of type-impact, and it is feasible therefore to use a speed escapement with consequent benefit to the key-touch.

To these ends, the universal bar is preferably made in two parts, mounted for individual movement, and which parts present two universal faces or edges which may be disposed next to one another in accordance with the idea of localizing the universal-bar mechanism. One of the unlversal-bar parts is connected to. operate the ribhon-vibrator, its universal face or edge being engaged preferably by. a cam on the swinging type-bar or similarly moving type-action member, and operative to impart the relatively slow movement to said ribbon-vibrating universal-bar I part. The other universal-bar part operates the carriage-escapemerit, andits face or edge is engaged-by a formation on the type-action member, so disposed that it comesninto play very close to the instant of type-impact, so that the desired 25 quick operation of-the carriage-escapement is effected. V

Inthe Underwood type-bf machine, the two universal faces or edges of the individuallyemovable universal-bar parts may be arcuate to conform with the arcuate array of the type-bars, each of the latter being provided with said ribhon-vibrating cam and said escapement-actuating formation. Said arcuate universal-bar parts may be nested one above the other, so that they occupy very'littlemore room than was heretofore occupied by the single universal bar.

The arrangement of the novel universal bars.

'may be such that the connections therefrom to operate the carriage-escapement and ribbon- 40 vibrator may remain practically unaltered in re- .1 6 1 to the connections used in'prior machines,

and the noVeLuniversal-bar mechanism may therefore be applied to existing of mashines at little expense.

Certain features of the invention may also be made available with substantial'heneflt by means of a single universal bar having a universal face or edge formation, which is engageable, duringthe printing stroke, first by the protractedly-op crating ribbon-vibrating cam of the type-'-action member, and then by a partn said type-action member, which part overha the single'universal bar and gives the'same a staccato impulse Very. close to the instant of type-impact, and, at

the beginning of which impulse, said universal bar has reached the end of approach to, and has thereb become engaged with, a carriage-escapement-operating member.

A further feature of invention relates to novel devices for facilitating adjustment of universalbar-mechanism, parts at the interior of the machine, and ordinarily inaccessible for manipulation.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure l is a perspective view of the novel twopart universal-bar mechanism, indicating the type-bar and its novel heel-portion in normal position, and the corresponding positions of the two individually movable parts of said mechanism.

Figure 2 is a side view indicating the universalbar parts seen in Figure 1, and the connections 2 therefrom to the ribbon-vibrator and to the carriage-escapement.

Figure 3 is a side view showing the type-bar as having been swung to the point whereas its cam has actuated one universal-bar part to bring the ribbon, at relatively slow speed, to the printing point; another palt of the type-bar heel having started the other universal-bar part, and thereby started operation of the escapement.

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing details of novel means for facilitating adjustment of universal-bar springs.

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the invention as applied to a single universal bar.

Figure 6 is a side elevation view showing the single universal bar and its relation to the novel type-bar heel and to the ribbon-vibrating and escapement-operating connections.

Figure 7 is a front elevation view of parts of the organization seen in Figure-6, some of said parts being sectioned and broken away for clearness.

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the universal-bar train and connections of Figure 6, and shows the positions of the parts at the instant of typeimpact.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary side view indicating how the type-bar heel-cam may efieet the ribbon-vibrating phase of universal-bar movement, and also indicating, in the use of a single universal bar, how the escapement-actuating portion of said heel has overhauled the coacting edge of the single universal bar.

Depression of any alphabet or numeral typekey III on key-lever l l Figure 6, swings, by means of suitable connections, a type-bar l3, pivoted at H, to print against a platen I 5. Said connections may include a bell-crank l1 articulated to the key-lever II by a pin-and-slot connection I!) and to thetype-bar (I by a link 20, as exemplified in Patent No. 644,082, to Kauifman, of February 27, 1900.

' A segment 2| on machine-frame 22 pivotally mounts the system of type-bars IS in the usualarcuate array seen in Figure '7.

An Underwood platen-carriage is represented in Figures 2 and 6 by a case-shiftable frame 24 forming part of said carriage whi 2h has a letterfeeding rack 25 and is driven by the usual springmotor '(not shown) in a letter-feeding step at operation of a type-bar I3.

The novel ribbon and escapement actuating universal-bar mechanism will now be described with reference to its application in the illustrated machine. It may be notedbeforehand that the escapement-mechanism includes the usual escapement-wheel 28 co-operative with the usual dog-rocker 29 having dogs 3| and 32, said escapement-wheel having a pinion 33 meshing with the carriage-rack 25.

The universal-bar structure is best made in two parts, one part being arranged to actuate the escapement-dog rocker 29; the other part being arranged to actuate a ribbon-vibrator 36.

As seen in Figure 1, the universal-bar structure includes frames E and R which may be nested together, as shown, to localize said structure in substantially the same region of the machine heretofore occupied by the single universal bar.

The frame E has a curved universal bar EU which is concentric with, and is nested within, the curve of a similar universal bar RU of the frame B, said universal bars being engageable by any type-bar l3, as will presently be des3ribed.

The escapement-universal-bar frame E may be formed to include a front chord 38 having a forwardly-projecting tongue 40 fitted in the type-bar segment 2| to support said frame E at the front for fore-and-aft movement. A rear chord 42 of the frame E has rearwardly-extending side arms 44 connected to a rockable frame 46 to support the rear part of frame E for fore-andaft movement. A spring 49 yieldably holds the frame E in its forward position determined as by a stop 50 abutting the segment 2!.

In the ribbon-universal-bar frame R, the universal bar RU has ears 52 having studs 53 fitting the segment 2! to support the front of said frame R for fore-and-aft movement. The frame R has a rear cross-member 56 overlying and clearing the rear chord 42 of frame E and also clearing the escapement-dog rocker 29. Said cross-member 56 of frame R- carries one end of the train of ribbon-vibrating connections, and is therefore made adjustable in fore-and-ait dire;tions relatively to the universal bar RU. Rearwardly-extending arms of the universal bar RU therefore overlap and are adjustably secured to fore-andaft extending side arms 57, Figure 1, of the crossmember 56. Each side arm 51 has a slot to ride as shown, on the rockable frame 46 to support the rear part of frameR for fore-and-aft movement independently of the movement of frame E.

Each type-bar I3 has adiacent the type-bar fulcrum H a camming edge 62 abutted by the ribbon-universal bar RU when the type-bar I3 is in the normal, Figure 2, position, wherein the type-bar head lies upon a rest 63. Said camming edge 62 may be so formed that beginning with the start of the upward and rearward swing of the type-bar and continuing until the typebar reaches the Figure 3 position, the ribbon-universal-bar frame R is given a smoothly accelerated'and retarded movement indicated by the dotted lines 65, Figure 2, which represent positions of the universal bar RU at equally spaced stages of the swing of the type-bar I 3.

The movement of frame R, since it is protracted through the described portion of the typebar stroke, is of relatively slow speed. This slowspeed movement of frame R is transmitted to the ribbon-vibrator 36 through a train of connections which may be of the kind shown in Patent 926,- 050, to F. A; Cook, and which may be briefly described as follows. Secured to the usual platen case-shift rail 64 is a lever having an arm 68 connected to the ribbon-vibrator 35, and an arm 10 presenting from each of its opposite lateral faces a pin II. The pins II are selectively connectable to the frame R by means of a laterallyslidable bracket I3 (Figure l), mounted on a .flange I4 rising from the rear cross-member 58 of the universal-bar frame R.

If the bracket 13' is shifted to the left, as indicated by the dotted outline 13 ,Figure 7, only the upper pin 'II will be connected to frame R, and hence rearward movementof the latter, as effected by means of camming edge 82 on typebar I3, will raise the'ribbon-vibrator 36 only far enough to bring the upper band of a two-color ribbon to the printing point. A shift of the bracket I3 rightward to the full-line position of Figure 7 will disconnect the upper pin and connect the lower pin II, whereby the same extent of rearward movement of frame R will bring the lower ribbon-band to the printing point, as indicated in Figure 3. The usual linkage for shifting bracket I3 is indicated by a fragmentary portion After its rearward movement as far as the Figure 3 position, wherein either the upper or lower band of the ribbon 21 may have been brought fully, if desired,to the printing point, the ribbonuniversal-bar frame R may remain stationary in the interval during which the type-bar I3 com- 7 pletes its printing stroke and recoils back to said Figure 3 position. The camming edge 52 of the type-bar I 3 may accordingly terminate in a dwell I9 in case the ribbon has been fully vibrated at the Figure 3 position of the type-hair.

During such interval occurring inthe opera tion of the type-bar I3, between the Figure 2 and Figure 3 positions, the carriage-escapement actuation by means of the escapement-universal bar frame E takes place as an edge or shoulder 88 of the type-bar I3, and in sequence to the cam 62, engages the universal bar EU, as indicated in Figure 3. By the rearward stroke of the frame F thus effected during the further movement of the type-bar I3 from the Figure 3 position, the rear edge of the rear chord 42 of said frame E displaces the dog-rocker 28. This initiates a carriage-feeding step which is completed at the re=- coil of the type-bar, said recoil resulting in a forforwardly under the pull of a spring 83, its universal bar RU following the type-bar cam-edge 52 which may limit the forward movement of said frame 8- in Figure 2. By said forward movement of the frame R, the ribbon-vibrator 381s driven down to its normal Figure 2 position determined by abutment of the ribbon-vibrator-actuating arm 58 with a stop-arm 84. There-may be an ad. ditional stop-arm projecting from the shiftrail- 68 and abutting the arm I8 (Figure 2), to

determine the lower position of the ribbon-vibrator 38 when the platen is in upper-case position. A stop 88, Figure 2, opposite the ear 52 of frame R, may be provided to limit the rearward movement of said frame R,-and said stop may project from machine-frame 22.

To secure proper alignment of the pins II of the thus arrested lever 88, I8 with slots I5 of the laterally-shiftable bracket I3, and at the same time to assure abutment of the universal bar RU with the cammingedges 62 of the type-bars, said speed by means of a localized universal-bar mechuniversal bar RU is made, as before stated, ad- .justable relatively tothe cross-member 56 which carries said bracket I8. The rearwardly-extending arms 55 of said universal bar RU may therefore have elongate holes 81 through which pass 5 screws 88 that secure'said arms 55 to the side arms 51 of the cross-member 56.

To facilitate adjustment of the combined length of each pair of arms 55, 51, and hence of the universal bar RU relative to the cross-member 56, these parts being usually at the interior of the machine, and therefore difilcult to get at for manipulation, the following novel device may be provided. The screws 88 may be loosened by a screw-driver manipulated from the sides of the machines. For similar manipulation from the sides of the machine for finely adjusting the combined length of a pair of arms 55, 571, each arm 55 may have a slot or opening 89 whose lateral edges are on opposite sides of a hole 98 provided in each side arm 57!; The hole 98 receives a fulcrum-tip SI of. an adjusting tool or key 92, Fig-= ure 1, manipulatable from the side of the machine and having an edge 83 which, when the fulcrumtip 89 is inserted in hole 98, serves to move the arm 55 forwardly or rearwardly relative to arm 57, depending on-how said key 92 is turned. In

this manner, the universal bar RU may be finely tightened again when proper adjustment has been effected.

The tension of the universal-bar springs 49 and 83 may also be regulated from the sides of the machine by means of said key 92. Each of said springs is accordingly anchored to a lever 95 mounted on an arm 91. The arms 91 may be com- I bined with the vibrator-stop arm 86 as'a unitary fixture 88 attached to an escapement-supporting bracket 84 by screws 98. Each lever 95 may be adiustably fastened to its supporting arm 9'! by a screw I88 passing through a slot I8I' of said lever. Each supporting arm 91 has avhole 96 into which the fulcrum-tip 90 of the adjusting key 82 isset for adjusting the position of the lever 85, when 5 screw I88 is loosened, each lever 95 having an edge I82 engageable by the edge 93 of key 82, the tension of spring 49 or 83 obviously co-operating with the manipulation ofkey 82 in forcing the lever 85 forward or backward to increase or ease said tension,-whereupon the screw I88 may be tightened again.

For the purpose of vibrating'the ribbon at relatively slow speed and the escapement at high ani'sm, the invention may also be practiced by means of a substantially one-piece or unitary universalbar or frame, which, to this end, maybe arranged relatively to the type-bar It, as shown in Figures 5 to 9.

The heel-portion of each type-bar I3 is accordingly made su stantially the same as hereinbefo're described, to i clude a ribbon-vibrating camming edge I52 and an escapement-actuating shoulder 88 85 Referring to Figure 6, the camming edge 52* is abutted in the cumbent position of the type-bar by an edge or face I I88 of a unitary universal-bar frame} generally indicated by the numeral I84. Said frame I84 also presents an edge I85 arranged relatively to the type-bar-heel edge 88 so" as to be overtaken by the latter for actuating the escapement, as willpresently become clear. The edge or face I 83, associated with operation of the ribbon-vibrator,.may be formedvby a flange I06 of an arcuate bar I01. A similar bar I08 presents the edge I05 which is associated with operation of the escapement.

Said bars I01, I08 and a member III are fastened together by rivets I I0 to form the universalbar frame I04 which has side arms II3 connected to the rockable frame 46 to support the rear of the frame I04 for fore-and-aft movement. The forward part of said frame I 04 is supported for foreand-aft movement by means of a tongue I I 4, slidably fitting in segment 2 I. A spring I I 6 urges the universal-bar frame I 04 forwardly, the forward movement of said frame being limited, as in Figure 6, by abutment of the face I03 thereof with the camming edge 62 of the type-bar.

The universal-bar-frame member III also has an upstanding flange II! to carry the laterallyshiftable bracket I3 of the hereinbefore-described ribbon-vibrating train.

In the swing of the type-bar I3 from the Figure 6 position to the Figure 9 position, and beginning with the start of said swing, the camming edge 62 of said type-bar moves the universal-bar frame I 04 rearwardly with smooth acceleration Y indicated by the dotted lines I I8, Figure 9 representing the positions of the frame I04 at equally spaced stages in the swing of the type-bar. Hence the cam-edge 62 here, too, co-operates to raise the ribbon without liability of overthrowing or crumpling the same. As indicated in Figure 6, an escapement-actuating rear edge I I9 of the frame I04, opposite the dog-rocker 29, is normally spaced forwardly of said dog-rocker, so that the latter is not moved until the type-bar reaches the Figure 9 position. The escapement-dog rocker 29 is therefore operated quickly, that is, in the relatively brief interval during which the type-bar I3 moves between the Figure 9 and the Figure 8 positions. This quick movement of the universal-bar frame I04 is effected by means of said edge 80 during said -interval. Although the ribbon still has a residue of its movement to the printing point t0 be pleted during said interval, the liability of overthrow or crumpling of the ribbon is, nevertheless, practically eliminated, since said residue of movement is small, and hence the speed of the ribbon during said interval is very much less than where, as heretofore, the full amplitude of ribbonvibration took place during said interval. Conversely, during the recoil stroke of the type-bar from the Figure 8 position, the universal-bar frame i 04 at first moves quickly forward under the pull of spring I I 6 as the type-bar moves from the Figure 8 to the Figure 9 position,-and, in this part of the type-bar recoil stroke, the dog-rocker 29 quickly completes its reciprocatory movement. As the type-bar further returns, from the Figure 9 position to the Figure 6 position, the universalbar frame I04, still moving forward under the pull of spring II6, follows the camming edge 52, so

that the return of the ribbon from the printing point is effected at relatively slow speed.

It' will be seen that the novel universal-bar mechanism is localized so that it occupies very little more room than was heretofore qccupied by the single Underwood universal bar; and it will be further seen that the connections from said mechanism to the ribbon-vibrator 36 and the escapement-dog rocker 29 may be arranged as in prior machines, and that the invention may the: efore be applied at little expense.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a typewriting machine, a system of individually-operable type-actions, each including a reciprocatory type-operating member, and two universal bars mounted for individual movement, one bar operable to actuate a ribbon-vibrator, and the other bar operable to actuate an escapement, each type-operating member having a cam for actuating the ribbon-vibrator at relatively slow speed, by traversing, with the cam contour, the corresponding universal bar through a protracted period of the type-action stroke, and also having a shoulder coming into play for actuating the escapement-universal bar quickly in correlation to the instant of type-impact, said universal bars being nested, next to one another, to minimize the room occupied thereby, means being provided and extending from said nested universal bars, enabling the same to respectively actuate the ribbon-vibrator and escapement.

2. In a typewriting machine having a ribbonvibrator and an escapement-mechanism, a system of type-carriers mounted in arcuate array to swing their types to a common printing point, each type-carrier having at its fulcrum-end a cam, and also having a shoulder in sequence to the cam-contour, and a pair of universal bars, each presenting a part curved similarly to the type-carrier array, said parts nested one within the curve of the other, the outer-part bar operable by means of said cam to work the ribbonvibrator at relatively slow speed during a protracted period of the type-carrier stroke, and the inner-part bar operable by means of said shoulder to work the escapement quickly in correlation to the instant of type-impact.

3. In a front-strike typewriting machine having a row of type-key levers and a system of type-carriers connected to and mounted in arcuate array above said key-levers to swing the types to a common printing point, and a pair of fore-and-aft extending universal-bar frames mounted for individual movement above the keylevers and behind the type-carriers, each frame having at its front an arcuate universal bar, the two bars being nested, one within the curve of the other, the rearwardly-extending portions of said frames also being nested, one above the other, and reaching rearwardly to coact with the ribbonvibrator and escapement-mechanism, each typecarrier having at its fulcrum-end a cam for actuating the ribbon at relatively slow speed by engaging the corresponding curved universal bar through a protracted period of the type-carrier stroke, each type-carrier also having a shoulder coming into play after the ribbon has been vibrated substantially to the printing point, to engage the other universal bar to work ;he escapement quickly in correlation to the instant of type-impact.

4. In a typewriting machine, a system of typeactions, a system of pivoted cams, one cam associated with each type-action and rotatable by operation of the latter, and means forming a ribbonvibrating universal-bar edge and an escapementactuating universal-bar edge, said edges extending transversely of and in operative juxtaposition to the cams, each cam formed to ac uate the ribbon-vibrating universal-bar edge at relatively slow speed by working through a protracted period of the type-operation, each cam having in sequence thereto a shoulder to engage the escapement universal-bar edge to operate the escapement quickly, close to the instant of typeimpact.

5. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a system of type-actions, each having a reciprocatory type-carrier operable to bring its type to and from a common printing point, a ribbon-vibrator and a letter-feed escapement, of means whereby any type-carrier by its swing to and from the printing point actuates said vibrator and escapement, so that the escapement is worked quickly during, a brief period of said movement, close to the instant of type-impact, and so that the ribbon-vibrator is actuated at relatively slow speed by being worked through a substantially more protracted period of said type-carrier movement than the escapement.

6. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a system of type-carriers pivoted in arcuate array, of auniversal-bar mechanism operable at sequential phases of and by the type-carrier swing and including a plurality of curved universal bars mounted for individual movement, said bars being nested, curve withincurve, in operative juxtaposition to the type-carriers, each type-carrier having means enabling it indts swing to engage said bars consecutively.

'Z. In a front-strike typewriting machine, a system of type-carriers mounted in arcuate array to print at a common printing point, a pair of curved universal bars nested, one within the curve of the other, and arranged relatively to the type-carriers for individually timed actuation by any type-carrier, each universal bar forming part or" a frame extending rearwardly, the rearwardiyextending portions also being nested, one above the other, the frames being mounted for individual movement, an escapement member operable by means of the rear portion of one frame, and a ribbon-vibrating train operable by means of the rear portion of the other frame.

8. A type-action member for use with a universal-bar device ofthe character described, and mountable to swing about a fulcrum, said memher having, coaxial with said fulcrum, a cam to displace said universal-bar device during a protracted period of the swing of said member, and also having, spaced in sequence to the cam, a shoulder to actuate said device at the end of said period.

9. In a front-strike typewriting machine, a systern of type-carriers, a segmentmounting the type-carriers in arcuate array to bring their types to a common printing point, and a pair of frames, each having a curved universal bar engageable by the type-carrier; one universal bar nested within having an arm extending in substantially the direction of its movement to reach a part of a universal-bar-operated mechanism, said arm being divided, one arm-portion overlapping another arm-portion lengthwisefof the arm, said portions adjustably fastened together, one arm-portion having a tool-receiving fulcrum, and. the other arm-portion having, contiguous to said fulcrum, an edge, said fulcrum and edge enabling the turning of a tool applied thereto from aside of the during a brief period of said stroke near the inmachine to effect lengthwise movement of one arm-portion relatively to the other arm-portion, for fine adjustment of the universal-bar structure relatively to said type-actions and said operated mechanism.

.5 11. A universal bar constructed according to versal bar; a spring for urging said bar in one direction, a spring-support, and a mounting to which said spring-support is clamped in variable position, said mounting and support being at the interior of the machine and having a fulcrum on the one and a contiguous edge on the other, said fulcrum and edge enabling the turning of a tool applied thereto from the outside of the machine to shift said spring-support for tensing or easin :v the spring.

13. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a system of key-operated reciprocatory type 2:; carriers mounted in arcuate array and operable to bring their types to and from a common print-' ing-point, a ribbon-vibrator and a letter-feed escapement, of individual universal bars for the ribbon-vibrator and escapement, said type-carriers having meansto operate the universal bars separately, so that the ribbon-vibrator is operated during a protracted period oi the type bar stroke and the escapement is operated only 85 stant of type-impact.

i i. In a typewriting machine having a ribbonvibrator and an escapement, a system' of type carriers mounted to swing individually to bring their types to a common printing point, and, a w universal-bar mechanism connected to actuate the ribbon-vibrator and escapement, each typecarrier having at its fulcrum-end a cam to engage a portion of said universal-bar mechanism through a protracted period of the type-carrier stroke, and thereby operate the ribbon-vibrator at a relatively slow speed, each type-carrier also having near its fulcrum-end a shoulder coming into engagement with another portion of said universal-bar mechanism for a brief portion of the type-carrier stroke to thereby work the escapement quickLv near the instant of type-impact, said portions of the universal-bar mechanism being localized in contiguity to one another and in operative contiguity to said cams and shoulders. a

'15. Ina typewriting machine havinga ribbonvibrator anda letter-feed escapement, a system of type-actions with which is associated a system of reciprocatory shouldered cams, one cam for each type-action and rotatable by the latter, during the printing and retum' strokes, and a universal-bar mechanism connected to actuate the ribbon-vibrator and escapement, each cam formed to engage and actuate a portion of said 5 universal-bar mechanism through a protracted 1 period of the type-action stroke for actuatingthe ribbon-vibrator at relatively slow speed, each cam having a sequence to its ribbon-vibrating contour a shoulder to engage another portion 7 of the universal-bar mechanism to operate the escapement quickly close to the instant of typeimpact.

16. In a typewriting machine, a system of individually-operable type-actions, a co-operating 7s letter-feeding escapement, each type-action including a key-member operable in printing and return strokes, each type-action also including a type-operating member driven by said key-member through a movement-multiplying connection so as to have greater amplitude of stroke than said key-member during the printing and return strokes of the'type-action, a ribbon-vibrator, and two universal bars mounted for individual movement, one universal bar connected to actuate the ribbon-vibrator, and the other universal bar connected to actuate the escapement, each of said type-operating members having means for actuating the ribbon-vibrator at relatively slow speed by working the corresponding universal bar through a protracted period of type-operating member stroke, and each of said type-operating members also having initially idle means, effective only during a brief part and near the completion of its relatively great printing stroke, for completely operating the escapement-universal bar quickly near the instant of type-impact, said universal bars, being nested, one within the other, to minimize the room occupied thereby.

17. In a typewriting machine, a system of individually-operable type-actions, each including a type-operating member driven by a key-member and having a substantially greater amplitude of movement than said key-member during the printing and return strokes, a letter-feed escapement, a ribbon-vibrator, and a universal-barmechanism connected to actuate the escapement and ribbon-vibrator, each of said type-operating members including a cam for actuating-the ribbon-vibrator at relatively slow speed by engaging and traversing a portion of said universal-bar mechanism through a protracted period of the type-action stroke, each of said type-operating members also having a shoulder, initially idle, and only coming into play to engage another portion of said universal-bar mechanism for a brief period near the completion of the relatively great printing stroke of, said type-operating memher, to thereby completely operate the escapement quickly close to the instant of type-impact, said portions of the universal-bar mechanism comprising two faces, one face for engagement by said cam, and the other face for engagement by said shoulder, said faces being juxtaposed next to one another to localize the same, and thereby compact said universal-bar mechanism.

18. In a typewriting machine, a system of typeoperating members movable in opposite directions for bringing types to and from the printing-point, each member including a cam and a shoulder in sequence to said cam, a universal-bar mechanism partly operable by any cam and partly by any shoulder, and a ribbon-vibrator and letterfeed escapement operable by the universal-bar mechanism, the period of ribbon-vibration being protracted through a substantial portion of the movement of said type operating member by means of said cam, said cam being formed to cause the universal-bar mechanism to work with accelerated and decelerated movement as com: pared with substantially even movement of said type-operating member, whereby liability of crumpling or overthrowing the ribbon is minimized, said shoulder of the type-operating member only coming into play near the end of the printing stroke to coact with said universal-bar mechanism and effect quick and complete operation of the escapement near the instant of typeimpact.

19. In a typewriting machine, a system of individually-operable type-actions printing at a common printing-point, each type-action including a key-member operable in printing and return strokes, and also including a type-operating member driven by, and having a movement-multiplying connection to, said key-member so as to have a stroke of substantially greater amplitude than said key-member, and two universal bars respectively connected to actuate a ribbonvibrator and a letter-feed escapement, each typeoperating member having a cam for actuating the ribbon-vibrator at relatively low speed by Working the corresponding universal bar through a protracted period of the printing-stroke of the type-operating member, each type-operating member also having a shoulder, initially idle, coming into play only near the completion of its printing-stroke, to impart a staccato stroke to the escapement-universal bar, and thereby complete the operation of the escapement close to the instant of type-impact.

20. In a typewriting machine, a system of typeaction members movable in opposite strokes for bringing types to and from the printing-point, a ribbon-vibrator, a letter-feed escapement, and a universal-bar mechanism operable to actuate the ribbon-vibrator and escapement consecutively, each of said type-action members having a cam whereby the universal-bar mechanism is Worked, for ribbon-vibration, through a protracted period of the stroke of said member, said cam being formed to effect acceleration and deceleration of the ribbon-vibrator movement, whereby liability of ribbon crumpling or overthrow is minimized, said type-action member also having a shoulder coming into play near the end of its printingstroke, to give a rapid impulse to the universalbar mechanism to actuate the escapement quick- 5 ly, near the instant of type-impact, in contradistinction to the decelerated movement of the ribbon-vibrator.

21. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a system-of type-carriers pivoted to swing 5 from an arcuate array, 21 ribbon-vibrator, and a letter-feed mechanism, of a universal-bar mechanism arranged for actuating the ribbon-vibrator and letter-feed mechanism consecutively, each type-carrier having a cam and a shoulder for engaging the universal-bar mechanism at consecutive phases of the type-carrier swing. 

